Dynamical localization transition in the non-Hermitian lattice gauge theory

• Published in: Communications physics 2024-02, Vol.7 (1), p.58-9, Article 58
• Main Authors: Cheng, Jun-Qing, Yin, Shuai, Yao, Dao-Xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/766/119/2795; 639/766/483/3926; Fermions; Gauge theory; Localization; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum phenomena; Simulators; Skin effect
• ISSN: 2399-3650; 2399-3650
• DOI: 10.1038/s42005-024-01544-6

Local constraint in the lattice gauge theory provides an exotic mechanism that facilitates the disorder-free localization. However, the understanding of nonequilibrium dynamics in the non-Hermitian lattice gauge model remains limited. Here, we investigate the quench dynamics in a system of spinless fermions with nonreciprocal hopping in the Z 2 gauge field. By employing a duality mapping, we systematically explore the non-Hermitian skin effect, localization-delocalization transition, and real-complex transition. Through the identification of diverse scaling behaviors of quantum mutual information for fermions and spins, we propose that the non-Hermitian quantum disentangled liquids exist both in the localized and delocalized phases, the former originates from the Z 2 gauge field and the latter arises from the non-Hermitian skin effect. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the nonreciprocal dissipation causes the flow of quantum information. Our results provide valuable insights into the nonequilibrium dynamics in the gauge field, and may be experimentally validated using quantum simulators. Lattice gauge theory, a subset of gauge theory, has been successfully applied to a range of quantum systems allowing for the investigation of localised phenomena within these systems. Here, the authors consider a non-Hermitian lattice model observing a quantum disentangled liquid state that exists in both the localised and delocalised phases.